First‐ and second‐ sphere coordination of the uranyl ion by bis­[2‐(2‐hydroxy­phenoxy)­ethoxy]­ethane

Uranyl nitrate hexahydrate reacts with bis­2‐(2‐hydroxy­phenoxy)­ethoxy]­ethane (C₁₈H₂₂O₆), denoted LH₂ hereafter, in the presence of triethylamine to give ­triethylammonium aqua2,2′‐(3,6‐dioxaoctane‐1,8‐diyldioxy)diphenolato‐κ²O,O′](nitrato‐κ²O,O′)dioxouranium(VI), (Et₃NH)UO₂(H₂O)L(NO₃)], which possesses a symmetry plane. The uranyl ion is coordinated to the two phenoxide O atoms, a nitrate ion and a water mol­ecule (first sphere); the water mol­ecule is itself held in the crown ether chain by hydrogen‐bonding interactions, thus ensuring second‐sphere coordination by the ligand L.